This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Sept. 12, 2022 regular Board of Education business meeting. This is an unofficial record. Official minutes of each Board meeting are posted on the district website and are available for viewing at the Administrative Center after the Board approves them, typically two weeks after the meeting.
Click here to view a recording from the Sept. 12 Board Meeting
Board President Remarks
The district’s Diversity Committee held its first meeting last Thursday; Marissa Rosen and I were there for the kickoff.
We have added Board liaison committee reports to our agenda, so each Board member will have an opportunity to give a report.
The SSD Governing Council, which I also chair, will meet next Monday on Zoom to present the final report of the Public Review Committee to the full body of the council, which includes representatives from SSD’s 22 local partner districts.
The SSD Parent Advisory Council will host a Family Engagement Night on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the SSD central office, 12110 Clayton Road.
Superintendent Remarks
It has been a successful first three weeks of school. I’m proud to report that students and staff in all of our schools are thriving.
Many of our schools are gathering baseline data from our universal assessments; this data is incredibly important for planning and preparing differentiating lessons, focusing on where each student stands individually in real-time.
Professional development is an everyday occurrence in our district, but Dr. Amy Zielinski has done a great job of pulling in outside resources that serve individual school needs as well. Data from our Panorama survey has assisted the C&I team. Very soon, we will begin our regularly scheduled data team meetings with school leadership and district data teams to analyze areas of improvement. This is all in alignment with this year’s district goals.
I often mention Prop L in these updates, but I haven’t talked about how we are preparing to use the new spaces to enhance lessons and improve learning. Dr. Zielinski and I have met with our architects and are scheduling meetings with other districts to discuss how they are using similar spaces. Dr. Zielinski and our instructional coaches plan to provide professional development after teachers have moved into their new spaces; it will be an ongoing learning process. I’ve already seen how these new spaces can impact learning at Old Bonhomme.
Last Thursday, we held a professional development session for our school counselors, SEB team, educational support counselors, and building principals.
Speaking of professional development, I met with our principals last week for a session based on the book “Think Again” by Adam Grant. I am always impressed when I get to work with our principals so we can learn from each other.
If you have not listened to our most-recent See Serve Connect podcast with Dr. Angela Thomspon, I encourage you to check it out.
ACTION ITEMS
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) III
Dr. Geoff Macy presented the district’s Safe Return to Learn Continuity of Services Plan 2022-23 as required by ESSER III. The Board approved the plan.
Return to School Mitigation Measures
Dr. Wipke and District Lead Nurse Ann Body presented the Mitigating Measures Plan 2022-23. The Board approved the plan.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Dr. Macy led a discussion on the proposed 2022 district tax rates, which will go up for Board approval at the Sept. 29, 2022 meeting.
Dr. Derrick Wallace provided a summary of summer program participation for 2022 and plans for future summer offerings.
Dr. Amy Zielinski introduced curriculum documents relating to seven high school courses.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.
